The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH 2.0) calls upon the Election Commission (EC) to urgently respond to the issue of voters being unconstitutionally transferred across state (DUN) and parliamentary constituencies.
On 1 July 2016, BERSIH 2.0 visited the EC’s office to raise our concern on vote transfers. We handed over data showing that 118,774 voters were moved to different state constituencies, of which over 40,000 voters were also moved to different Parliament constituencies.
The EC has promised to look into the issue, but unfortunately the EC wrote back to say that they needed more time. However, BERSIH 2.0 has given EC 3 weeks to analyse the data and we are surprised that EC needed more time when they are the primary source for the data.
Today, we are here as we have brought affected voters to lodge their complaints.
We are also here because BERSIH 2.0 has found that the changes carried out by the EC could potentially affect the elections result of the election. For example, in the following parliamentary seats with marginal winning majority:
| Parliamentary Constituency | Winning Majority in 13th General Elections | Number of Voters transferred in | Number of Voters transferred out |
| 035 Kuala Nerus | 610 | 548 | 500 |
| 058 Bagan Serai | 1,140 | 603 | 553 |
| 059 Bukit Gantang | 986 | 487 | 429 |
| 119 Titiwangsa | 866 | 252 | 0 |
| 140 Segamat | 1,217 | 2,694 | 868 |
| 141 Sekijang | 3,007 | 738 | 2,694 |
| 146 Muar | 1,646 | 81 | 531 |
| 150 Batu Pahat | 1,524 | 508 | 990 |
| 159 Pasir Gudang | 935 | 0 | 463 |
Given the significant impact, BERSIH 2.0 reiterates that the changes made by the EC is unconstitutional because it causes the number of voters and boundaries of state and parliamentary constituencies to change. Such changes can only be done via a public re-delineation exercise, which requires a due process and parliamentary approval.
BERSIH 2.0’s public complaint hotline has received over 100 reports from voters, since it was set up on 1 June 2016. Many voters were unaware that their voting constituency has changed and expressed on why the changes were made.
BERSIH 2.0 demands immediate response from EC to:
- Explain the specific reasons for the correction of each locality, in order for voters to assess and verify the changes;
- Reinstate voters who were moved across DUN and Parliament constituency. Return them to their original constituencies, because such changes can only be done via a public re-delineation exercise.
It is therefore urgent that EC meets with BERSIH 2.0 as soon as possible to resolve what might be perceived as illegal tampering of the electoral roll and unconstitutional and covert delineation without adhering to due process.
Issued by:
BERSIH 2.0 Steering Committee